————
Name: Masaru
Tier: 1
Level: 5
XP: 27.5/155
STR: 29.8 (+10)
DEX: 19.2 (+10)
CON: 26.3 (+10)
————
It was glorious.
"Four damn months…"
Inhaling deeply, I stood at the top of the waterfall overlooking the tribe of primates. The smile I wore slowly dimmed—my stats weren't really anything special. Sure, they were higher than those of the average human now, but that was only thanks to Heavenly Restriction boosting them.
'So close to reaching thirty in Strength.'
I hadn't confirmed it with the System, but I hoped there were Milestones—thresholds that, when crossed would grant rewards. Still, something told me that with how the System had behaved so far, I shouldn't expect anything too game changing.
"Then there's that orangutan…"
There were a few things I'd realized about the massive creature. One, it never left the platform that overlooked the rest of the area. The only way to stay out of its sight was to either wait for it to retreat into its cave, or remain above the waterfall.
The second and far more terrifying fact? It was eating its own kind.
'And today, I might join those eaten.'
It was a grim fate. Every young primate seemed to be put through a trial—two would fight, and the loser if shown mercy, would be given one last chance to survive the orangutan's maw. The young baboon I'd killed months ago had been on its second chance. At the time, I hadn't known. I'd been too overwhelmed to notice the corpse being dragged to that monstrous monkey.
"Uoahuoah!"
I turned to face the young mandrill baring its fangs from across the shallow flowing river that separated us. I stretched my arms overhead, leaning side to side. As I moved, I saw the mandrill similar in size to myself grow agitated, but it didn't attack. We were both waiting for the starting sound.
"THUMMM!"
The ground shook, and the water rippled as the massive orangutan slammed its hand down below us.
This time, I wasn't caught off guard.
I charged forward as the mandrill did the same. Ducking beneath a swipe, I drove my elbow into its nose, then grabbed onto its massive fangs. With a grunt, I lifted it and slammed it into the water with a suplex.
I rolled onto my stomach and pushed into a runner's start, taking off just as the mandrill staggered upright with a bloodied head—but it was too late.
My knee collided with its jaw in a sickening crunch, shattering its fangs.
Letting out a cry, it swiped and struck my ribs with a shallow blow. I responded by grabbing its arm and with effort, flung it over my shoulder—sending it tumbling closer to the waterfall's edge.
Slowly, I walked toward it as it struggled to recover.
I hesitated.
'It'd be merciful if I killed it.'
It had been four months since I last killed. All I'd done was train. Even now, it felt just as difficult.
'It'll also spare them from the fate that awaits the rest of them.'
Resolute, I drew the hunting knife tied to my hip and flipped it into a reverse grip.
"U-uoah…"
It clutched its bloody mouth and began to rise—just as I rushed in again.
It noticed a second too late.
I swept its feet from under it, then raised the knife and plunged it into its temple in one swift, clean motion.
[+6XP (Mandrill)]
I exhaled quietly and pulled the blade free.
Then froze.
A giant orange hand slammed over the waterfall's edge, plucked the corpse from the ground and vanished just as quickly.
'Holy shit.'
•—•—•
I waited, my breath slowed, eyes closed, ears open—listening to the distant sounds of the primates settling in for the night.
'System, Quests.'
Calling out into the emptiness of my mind, I heard it respond. Even with my eyes shut, the familiar blue panel flashed into view.
————
#Quests#
Trial Quests:
Survive the Nights!
Reward: +5XP
Combat Quests:
Slay the King of the Swingers
Information: The apex of the canopy, feared even by its own kind.
Rewards: ???, Marine Distress Signal
Time left: 231 days
————
Hope had surged in my chest when I saw that for the first time. Finally, a way off this island that didn't involve me trying to build a damn boat.
But there was a problem.
Killing that King Louie lookalike.
'I need to get stronger and soon… I really don't want to find out what happens when that timer hits zero.'
With the thought of my probably inevitable death looming over me, I opened my eyes.
Silence.
The jungle around me had fallen into a hush. I sat up slowly, letting my eyes adjust to the pitch black canopy above. Barely any moonlight slipped through the dense jungle ceiling, making this the perfect and incredibly risky opportunity to put my plan into motion.
A plan that involved killing sleeping monkeys… and hiding their bodies in the pit I'd been digging in secret whenever I had free time after training with the young primates.
'This plan is stupid.'
But I had no choice. For some reason, I wasn't allowed to go hunting with the food gathering parties.
I glanced down at my pants, now riddled with cuts and holes. Quietly, I slipped them off, leaving me nude—less noise, less fabric to snag. I grabbed my knife and slipped it between my teeth, turning away from the young ones and heading toward where the older primates rested.
They'd give more XP, hopefully.
Frowning, I began climbing the stone wall that separated the young from the adults. I moved slowly, carefully, each muscle strained to stay quiet.
At the top, I peeked over and spotted them. A small group of adult mandrills, sleeping soundly in the shadow of a boulder.
I released a quiet, shallow breath.
'Just kill enough to see how they react.'
Slipping the knife from my mouth, I crept toward the nearest one—its broad back leaning against the boulder.
I crouched low, adjusted my grip on the knife and exhaled.
Then I struck.
The blade plunged into the side of its head.
Its eyes snapped open, and immediately dimmed as the knife pierced its brain.
————
+12XP (Adult Mandrill)
+6XP (Assassination Multiplier)
————
'Twelve XP?'
'Hey, System—why did the mandrill I killed earlier today only give me six?'
Blue text blinked into view as I quietly slid the knife from the corpse and crept toward the next one:
[Answer: No distinction was needed, as the Host had not slain an adult Mandrill before now.]
I would've hummed in satisfaction if it wouldn't have blown my cover, so I just focused—knife steady, breathing calm.
Another stab. Another death. Quiet and clean.
————
+12XP (Adult Mandrill)
+6XP (Assassination Multiplier)
————
+12XP (Adult Mandrill)
+6XP (Assassination Multiplier)
————
...
..
.
—•—•
Wiping the sweat and blood from my brow, I stood over the pit.
Dead primates. Eight of them. All slain with a precise knife to the temple.
"Fuck... that took longer than I would've liked. Training's gonna be a pain in the ass..."
It had taken nearly three hours to kill them all—then another two to drag them here in pairs, load them into the hole and keep everything quiet.
But it was worth it.
————
Name: Masaru
Level: 6
XP: 16.5 / 166
STR: 29.8 (10.4)
DEX: 19.6 (10.4)
CON: 26.3 (10.4)
————
"Killing was the answer to my problems." I sarcastically muttered as I knelt down.
'Though it'll become the problem if anything notices.'
I began covering the pit with dirt, working quickly but carefully.
This wasn't the safest way to level up. I could've just walked away—found something else to hunt in this cursed jungle. Avoided drawing the ire of some giant pissed off monkey.
But the pros outweighed the cons.
If no one noticed the missing bodies...
If the younger ones stayed unaware...
Then I had a safe grind spot.
A safe place to sleep.
A reliable source of food.
A way to grow stronger without open conflict.
'For now, though… I'm going to bed.'
I patted down the dirt, rolled a patch of moss over it—the same one I'd cut with my knife earlier and rolled my shoulders with a quiet grunt.
Then, I turned and headed back toward the raised platforms to get some shuteye before anyone woke up.